in spite of / despite / although

In spite of, despite and although are all used to show a contrast but there are differences in the
structures used with them.

In spite of / despite

After in spite of and despite we use a noun or a pronoun.

 We enjoyed our camping holiday in spite of the rain.
 Despite the pain in his leg he completed the marathon.
 Despite having all the necessary qualifications, they didn’t offer me the job.

Remember that the gerund (‘-ing’ form) is the ‘noun’ form of a verb.

The only difference between in spite of and despite is the ‘of’.

 Despite of the bad weather, there was a large crowd at the match.

Although

After although we use a subject and a verb.

 We enjoyed our camping holiday although it rained every day.
 Although he worked very hard, he didn’t manage to pass the exam.
 The holiday was great although the hotel wasn’t very nice.

We can use in spite of and despite with a subject and verb if we include the expression ‘the fact that’.
 In spite of the fact that he worked very hard, he didn’t manage to pass the exam.
 Despite the fact that he worked very hard, he didn’t manage to pass the exam.

Even though

Even though is a slightly stronger form of although.

 We decided to buy the house even though we didn’t really have enough money.
 You keep making that stupid noise even though I’ve asked you to stop three times.

Like although, even though is followed by a subject and a verb.

 Using linking words to show contrast
We use linking words to join ideas together when we're talking or writing. Sometimes
we want to link two ideas that are different from each other (for example, one is a
positive idea and one is a negative idea) or we want to link one idea to another one
which is surprising or unexpected. We can use linking words like 'however',
'although' and 'despite' to do this.

Although
We can use 'although' at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. It is used in
front of a clause (a clause has at least a subject and a verb that agrees with the
subject).
 Although the weather is bad, I love London.
 I love London, although the weather is bad.
Despite / in spite of

We use 'despite' or 'in spite of' before a noun or a gerund. It can also go in the middle
or at the beginning of a sentence. 'Despite' and 'in spite of' mean exactly the same
thing. You can choose whichever one you like! If you want to use 'despite' or 'in spite
of' before a clause, you need to add 'the fact that'.
 I love London despite the bad weather.
 I love London in spite of the bad weather.
 Despite the bad weather, I love London.
 In spite of the bad weather, I love London.
 Despite the fact that the weather is bad, I love London.
 In spite of the fact that the weather is bad, I love London.
 I love London despite the fact that the weather is bad.
 I love London in spite of the fact that the weather is bad.
However
We use 'although' and 'despite / in spite of' to connect two clauses in the same
sentence. On the other hand, 'however' isn't used to connect two clauses. Instead, we
usually put the two ideas in two separate sentences. We put 'however' in the second
sentence, and we can put it at the beginning, at the end, or after the subject.
 I love London. However, the weather is bad.
 I love London. The weather, however, is bad.
 I love London. The weather is bad, however.
We use linking words to join ideas together when we're talking or writing. Sometimes
we want to show that one thing happened because of another thing. We can use
linking words like 'because' or 'since' or 'due to' to do this.

Words (or groups of words) that are followed by a clause

We can use these words at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. They are
used in front of a clause (a clause has at least a subject and a verb that agrees with the
subject). They go before the reason. If they are at the beginning of the sentence, we
put a comma in the middle to separate the clauses.

Because
We cancelled the picnic because it was raining.
 Because it was raining, we cancelled the picnic.
As
We cancelled the picnic as it was raining.
 As it was raining, we cancelled the picnic.

Since
We cancelled the picnic since it was raining.
 Since it was raining, we cancelled the picnic.

For
We can also use 'for' to mean 'because'. This is very literary and we don't really use it
in spoken English. 'For' can only go in the middle of the two clauses. We often add a
comma before it.
 We cancelled the picnic, for it was raining.

Words (or groups of words) that are followed by a noun

Because of + noun
We cancelled the picnic because of the rain.
 Because of the rain, we cancelled the picnic.

Due to + noun*
 We cancelled the picnic due to the rain.
 Due to the rain, we cancelled the picnic.

Owing to + noun
We cancelled the picnic owing to the rain.
 Owing to the rain, we cancelled the picnic.

*Some very traditional grammar books say that because 'due' is an adjective, we
should only use it after a noun and the verb 'be'. So we should say 'the cancellation of
the picnic was due to the rain' (instead of my example above), and we shouldn't use
'due to' at the beginning of a sentence. However, in modern English, it is fine to use
'due to' in the same way as 'owing to' and 'because of'.

EXPRESSING CONTRAST: however, but, nevertheless, still, whereas and yet

These sentence connectors are used to emphasize the fact that the second point contradicts with the
first.

HOWEVER : Katty couldn't cash her paycheck However, she managed to buy a new TV set.

BUT: Oscar had a ticket, but he didn´t go to the game

NEVERTHELESS: There was little chance of success; nevertheless they decided to perform the
surgery.

STILL He is rich. Still, he leads a miserable life.

YET: Edison dropped out school at an early age, yet he became a famous inventor.
WHEREAS. Tom thinks we´re ready to begin whereas Lisa thinks we have to wait

EXPRESSING CONTRAST: although, though even if and even though We use them to connect
contrasting ideas introducing a dependent clause

ALTHOUGH : Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our vacation.

THOUGH Maria didn´t receive a scholarship though she is an excellent student.

EVEN IF: Even if you take a taxi, you'll still miss your train

EVEN THOUGH: Even though the weather was bad, the ship departed

EXPRESSING CONTRAST: despite, in spite of We use them to contrast ideas. They must be followed by
a noun phrase or an –ing form

IN SPITE OF: In spite of being a millionaire, he is very mean

DESPITE: Despite the doctor´s advice, he played football last week.

Expressing Contrast

1. ....... he's been really ill lately, he insists on going into work. Even though Even if

2. I'll never forget you, ........ I live to be 100. Even though Even if

3. We decided to go to Italy for our holiday, ........ it meant we needed to get our passports renewed.
despite although

4. She decided to travel by plane ........ being very scared of flying. in spite of though

5. I'm not going out tonight. ........, I can see you tomorrow if you like. Although However

6. ........ the car was quite old, it was still very reliable. Despite Although

7. She went out ........ the rain Despite Although

8. …………she didn't like it, I enjoyed it a lot. Although However

9. I was late. _____, the others were all on time. Although However

Choose the correct answer

1. My sister is black despite/whereas I´m blonde
2. Despite/Yet going on a diet, she put on five kilos
3. Even though/Despite we are good friends, we don´t meet very often
4. My mother is French even though/whereas my father is Polish
5. I invited Tom. Although/ However, he didn´t come

Rephrase the sentences using the words in brackets

1. In spite of travelling the world, he is narrow-minded (although)
2. He is a sailor but he can´t swim (despite)
3. He is a sailor but he can´t swim (although)
4. He did his best. He came last. (Yet)
5. The traffic was terrible. However, we arrived on time. (although)
6. Despite the age of the house, he managed to sell it. (although)
7. Although he has an English name, he is in fact German. (in spite of)

Complete the sentences

1. The work continued despite
2. The team had no success although
3. We couldn´t work the machine in spite of
4. Even though it´s snowing
1. Although the watch was expensive, he bought it.
2. We went out despite / in spite of the rain.
3. We went out although / though it was raining.
4. Though / although my husband didn’t like the movie, I enjoyed it a lot.
5. He passed the test. However, he didn’t get the job.
6. Although / though he passed the test, he didn’t get the job.
7. They managed to do it though / although I was not there.
8. Tired though he was, he went on working.
9. However hard she tried, she couldn’t do it.
10. In spite of the headache, I enjoyed the movie.

Conjunctions: contrasting
from English Grammar Today
The conjunctions but and although/though connect ideas that contrast. Whereas is
also used but it is not as common:

The new city hall is amazing but it’s going to cost a lot.

He’s quite short, whereas his sister is tall.

But

But is a coordinating conjunction used to connect ideas that contrast. Coordinating

conjunctions connect items which are the same grammatical type.

main idea contrast

The meal was good expensive.

I want to lose weight I hate diets.
but
Lara cooked roast beef for me I don’t eat meat.
Edinburgh is an interesting place it takes a long time to get there.

Warning:
We can’t use however as a conjunction instead of but to connect words and phrases:

My teacher is very nice but a bit strict.

Not: My teacher is very nice however a bit strict.

See also:
 But
Although/though

Although/though can be used to contrast ideas. Although/though are subordinating

conjunctions used to connect a subordinate clause to a main clause, like after, as,
before, if, since, that, even though, even if.

although
main idea contrast
though

Grace is an excellent athlete she injured her leg recently.

Harry is a great friend we don’t see each other often.

The although/though clause can come first.

Although
contrast main idea
Though

the car was destroyed, no one was injured in the crash.

people say it’s dangerous, I think it’s an amazing country.

See also:
 Conjunctions
 Position of subordinating conjunctions
 Although or though?
 But or although?

But or although?

But cannot be used in the same way as although/though. We use but to connect
items which are the same grammatical type (coordinating conjunction).

Warning:
The order of clauses connected by coordinating conjunctions cannot be reversed:

Although it rained a lot, we’ve still enjoyed our holiday.

 We’ve still enjoyed our holiday, although it rained a lot.

It rained a lot but we’ve still enjoyed our holiday.

Not: But it rained a lot, we’ve still enjoyed our holiday.

Although can sound more formal than but. Though is much more common in
speaking than in writing. Although is much more common in writing than in speaking.

Even though, even if

Even though and even if are also used as subordinating conjunctions in the same
way as although/though. Even though is similar to although but it makes a stronger
contrast:

Even though I cycle to work, I don’t feel very fit.

Even if means ‘whether or not’:

Even if you run, you’ll still be late. (You’ll be late whether you run or not.)

I feel tired even if I go to bed early. (I feel tired whether I go to bed early or not.)

See also:
 Whether

Conjunctions: typical errors

 We use and to connect words in a list and to connect phrases and clauses in
a sentence:

He loves cycling, hiking and ball games.

Not: He loves cycling, hiking, ball games.

See also:
 And
 Adding with and
 After conjunctions referring to time, such as when, once and as soon as, we
use the present simple when we refer to the future:

It will be summer when we see you again.

 Not: … when we will see you again.

They’ll leave once the lecture finishes.

Not: … once the lecture will finish.

As soon as I hear any news, I’ll call you.

Not: As soon as I’ll hear any news …

 During is a preposition, not a conjunction, so it must be followed by a noun or

a pronoun:

She studies while she is on the train.

Not: She studies during she is on the train.

See also:
 Conjunctions: time
 When we use a so-clause to connect a cause/reason to a result, the so-
clause must come second:

I bought a new computer game so I have no money left.

Not: So I have no money left I bought a new computer game.

See also:
 Conjunctions: causes, reasons and results
 Because
 Since
 As
 We use although/though, not but, to connect a subordinate clause to a main
clause:

Although I’m tall, I’m not as tall as Bill.

Not: But I’m tall, I’m not as tall as Bill.

See also:
 But or although?
 When as well as or in addition to are followed by clauses, the verb is in the -
ing form:
 [from a brochure advertising an English course in London]

As well as living with a family, you practise your English.

Not: As well as you live with a family …

In addition to being a wonderful seafood restaurant, it had an amazing view.

Not: In addition to it was a wonderful seafood restaurant …

See also:
 Adding with as well as and in addition to
 We cannot use however to connect words and phrases:

The area around Cannes has small but nice beaches.

Not: … has small however nice beaches.

See also:
 Conjunctions: causes, reasons and results
 Position of subordinating conjunctions
 When or if?
 We only use one conjunction to connect words or phrases:

Since she had the day off work, she went out for lunch with some friends.

Not: Since she had the day off work, so she went out for lunch